Are we been ripped off

[hexcolor reef]

I can say today it’s all about the time and day you walk into your LFS. Last week I purchased a indo torch from on reputable seller for $125 two heads. And today I walked into my second fav LFS and seen an indo torch $75 for 4 heads nice size about 3” very healthy.
deals come and go and some times we miss them just to go in or buy online for double the price.

 

[SRQreefer]

I threw a "no" vote down on this one. Supply and demand, baby.

Also, I don't buy a lot online, but I've made out pretty well in auctions (particularly if they are in-state and the shipping cost is low).

My LFS is great. I mean, sometimes the prices are wacky - and I don't blame the store for that, if people will pay - but the owner is almost always willing to negotiate, particularly if I pull him aside discreetly and even more so if I walk in with cold, hard, cash. This has been my experience with most LFSs, provided you negotiate fairly, with an understanding of what you are looking at, and aren't a ***** about the "advertised" price.

All that said, torch prices are loony tunes everywhere. But if people are willing to pay, what can you do?

 

[MinnieMouse2]

That is why most of my buys are not local. I seek deals online which if you look instate often have low shipping fees which still beat local price.

 

[marinesnow]

No. There’s healthy competition amongst sellers and a free market that’s setting prices.

Reef keeping got a boost of new hobbyists during Covid, and that combined with inflation + the growing side hustle economy + Indonesia being closed down for the years it was, I’m not shocked by the latest sticker prices.

 

[Double monti 61]

I purchased this frag from petco for 40 bucks no shipping fees and I can see what i am buying

 

[Patx]

I have been in the hobby for about 20 years. in the last 6 years,
I kind of put that aside and lost track of the prices.
one thing for sure, the prices of "named" torch, anemone and frog are insane (x2 maybe) .
but hey, everything has increased everywhere.
i will stick with normal corals for now.

 

[Richard baker]

This is a colony of Ora frog skin I sold for 100.00 to a fellow reefer this weekend . I buy coral even high end such as my once 1/2 inch 600.00 angry bird frag and I grow them also and then when they need trimmed I sell them for a fraction of the online vendors to other reefers . I believe there is to much hype and photo shop in the industry . But I’ll pay the price and then help drive them down to and make my money back win win